Better Breathing Blog by PowerLung

You have made it past the halfway mark of 2018. You may have set some lofty goals for improving your health and fitness. Take a deep breath (hopefully improving your respiratory health was one of your goals) and look back on the year; where have you rocked it, were partially successful, and where did you fail? By reflecting on how far you have come, you can get back on track, celebrate the successes you have had, and re-establish resolutions you still have time to achieve.

Swimming is an undeniably valuable type of aerobic exercise, but it can be intimidating to start. Many adults took standard swim lessons offered at the local pool as children, and some children may even excel at the sport, while others just “get by.” A few may even join a swim team; however, most adults give up on swimming and water activities in general. But water exercise comes in different forms and has a variety of benefits which should be considered when looking for an enjoyable fitness activity, and something one can share with other adults and children alike.

It has long been touted that exercise improves brain function, and this concept has been used widely to support a recent drive to increase physical activity and save recess in schools. However, the benefits go well beyond school age years, and evidence supports the importance of regular physical exercise throughout life. It is a universally accepted understanding that regular exercise is good for the body. However, more and more research is being released showing the benefits to the brain as well. If you are considering starting an exercise regimen, training for a sporting event, or simply want to improve your health, here is some interesting science behind the connection, and a few of the useful facts about regular physical exercise and mental improvement:

Age is just a number to me. It doesn’t determine what I can do. In 1993, at age 46, I ran my first Houston Marathon after being trained for three months with my late husband and PowerLung co-inventor, Barry Jarvis. Fast forward to 2014, age 67; I started training for the 2015 Houston Marathon.

It is common misconception that your body just “fails” as you age. We do understand the nature of human physiology-systems don’t perform at their peak as bodies get older. However, you need not simply accept the status quo. There may be activities you can do to maximize your abilities and slow health decline; plus, improved lung function will provide you energy to add (or increase) exercise to your schedule. Exercise has shown to improve feelings of happiness and fulfillment.

Breathe in, breathe out. We all do it, everyday, all day. But, how efficiently are you breathing? Could you breathe stronger, for longer? Many people don’t realize the benefits of deeper, stronger breaths. Your respiratory muscles can even be trained to breathe deeper than you ever have before. When you are most anxious, a deep breath can make all the difference in whether you face the challenge, or shy away.

Many of us do not exercise enough. Whether it is because of work, the enrapturing television, or any number of other reasons we simply do not get the exercise we need to live long healthy lives. Jobs that require sitting for long periods can be damaging, and many of us don’t think about the consequences of sitting for so long without exercising between starting work and leaving. TV can be especially dangerous for us if we combine long days of sitting in front of the computer with long evenings of sitting in front of the television screen.

The kids are finishing the school year and the weather is warm and sunny. Outdoor activities make for great spring and summer fun! Don’t let exertion get in the way of fun with the kids! Make sure your lungs are strong enough to keep up with the kids this summer so you and your family can stay active together.

Although both the physiological and psychological benefits of regular exercise is already widely known in both scientific and mainstream circles, there are still many who fail to maintain regular exercise regimes. The importance of exercise for both the young and old cannot however be overstated. Exercise is related across the board to measures of happiness and fulfillment. Unfortunately as a result of limited physical activity, there are many older people who remain sedentary. The cost of this on both an individual and societal level looms large. For the individual, there is a loss of autonomy and independence, which cause feelings of loneliness and depression and as a society this costs billions in health care expenditures for the elderly.